What is Isomorphic JavaScript and How can it Help?

When you open a web page or a mobile application, there are many things happening behind the scene. The browser as well as the server sends request to provide webpage to us within matter of seconds. Most of the time developers choose to interpret the server side pages and many prefers rendering through the client’s side only. As a user, if you interact with a page, the one that renders the page is none other than the server.

As Single Page Applications or SPA rose, most of the webpage rendering responsibility was done either by client or by user’s browser. Although this has its own set of benefits, to obtain the best of both worlds, we use Isomorphic JavaScript.

What is Isomorphic JavaScript?
Isomorphic JS are simple applications that share same JavaScript code in between both client and server. These applications takes an equal shape of the code regardless of the environment it is running on either on the client or on the server side.

Isomorphic JavaScript
This allows you to write same code in the client as well as the server. As Isomorphic JavaScript has many benefit, like for example this helps in coding for both the client as well as the server side, which wasn’t possible earlier. Take for example, SPAs, these are useful in a number of things but these have two major drawbacks. The first being the low speed and the second is the poor SEO compatibility. Initial SPA page are slow to load as it takes more time to load and analyze client side JS. Although a delay of only a few seconds, a user might get impatient and leave the site, thus increasing the site’s bounce rate.

This decrease the code that’s need to be write by the developer, thus reducing the time and leading to an efficient testing. This is because a developer doesn’t need to code the same functionality over and over again for the client and the server.

Few Frameworks and Libraries
There are many isomorphic JavaScript libraries and frameworks that are easily available and that can assist you in creating your website. Here are a few reputable frameworks and libraries you can follow:

•React- Created by Facebook, React is a library that focuses mainly on UI development. The use of Virtual DOM provides high-performance and all other isomorphic capabilities. One can easily create an isomorphic app using React.

•Meteor- A full-stack isomorphic JavaScript framework, this is the most popular as it is open sourced. Other than this, Meteor works across many platforms and is a high performing framework. The best thing about Meteor is that it provides technology for each layer of the stack and allows easily replacing these technologies with the newer ones, all according to the developer.

•Derby- This is a full-stack isomorphic framework. Derby easily sync the data across clients as well as servers. Derby can do this and much more in a real time collaboration. Derby uses Node.js modules and ShareJS, through which it provides its core functionalities.

•Rendr- The aim behind this is to retain the feel of the client side while providing the benefits of the server side. Unfortunately, Rendr isn’t as extensive as many other full stack frameworks. Even though Rendr has its limitations, it does help developer modify and build library.

Conclusion: In short, Isomorphic JavaScript assists the client and server side by executing the same code. This reduces the developing time, better efficiency, better SEO compatibility and smoother page rendering.